Alumni news

ANU College of Law alumni are spread throughout the world, making a significant impact in their fields of expertise and within the community. We will keep you up to date with the latest news and features from the alumni community.  

ANU College of Law alumnus brings more than 20 years of national security law experience to watchdog role

Shortly after graduating from The Australian National University (ANU), Jake Blight (BGenSt, LLB ’00, MAppCybern ’21) embarked on his career as a lawyer at the Australian Government Solicitor. It didn’t take long for a major global event to quickly set the course of his future career.

A/Prof Jake Blight

If you’re a law student unsure about the best career path to take after graduation, you’re not alone.

Is it better to pursue the clerkship route and secure a job at a law firm? Maybe a graduate role in the public service? Or perhaps you should back yourself and go for that associateship, or even try your hand at consulting work?

For many, tunnel vision about the ‘best’ career pathway can set in before graduation.

Dhinesh and Aryan sitting together smiling

As with most high school students, Nicholas Simoes da Silva (BIntRel, LLB (Hons), GDLP ’20) had little idea of what he wanted to pursue as a career.

He enjoyed history and English literature, so he decided to enrol in The Australian National University’s (ANU) Bachelor of International Relations program as it aligned with some of his other interests at the time.

Nicholas Simoes da Silva

From IV treatments to the Ivy League, Adam Kamradt-Scott's career in nursing, politics and academia has been underpinned by an unwavering commitment to lifelong learning that, in recent years, included postgraduate law study at The Australian National University (ANU).

Adam Kamradt-Scott isn’t your typical Master of Laws graduate. He doesn’t come from a legal background, nor are there any lawyers in his family.

Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott

The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law congratulates two of its alumni, the Honourable Justice Stephen Gageler AC (BEc '80, LLB (Hons) '82, HonLLD '15) and the Honourable Justice Robert Beech-Jones (BSc, LLB (Hons) ’88), on their appointments to the High Court of Australia.

The Hon Justice Stephen Gageler AC (left) and the Hon Justice Robert Beech-Jones.

Three alumnae from The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law have been named winners in the 2023 Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards and Corporate Counsel Awards.

Among the outstanding alumni being recognised for their work in the legal profession is Jyoti Haikerwal (BMedSci/LLB (Hons) ’18), who was the winner in the 30 Under 30 Health, Medical and Personal Injury category.

2023 Lawyers Weekly awardees

Studying law was a natural choice for Alice Dawkins (BAsSt (Hons) ’16, LLB (Hons) ’18). Arriving at The Australian National University (ANU) on a Hawker Scholarship, she was attracted to the College of Law’s lively public policy environment. Although discouraged by the drier parts of a legal education and regularly considering dropping out, Alice persevered because she knew that law would be a necessary part in her journey towards making a difference in society.

Alice Dawkins

In 1993, Kuan Lim (BComm ’97) chose to pursue her undergraduate studies in Australia. However, she faced a tough decision in choosing where to study, made all the more difficult by the 3,600 kilometres between her two preferred cities. 

“It was either Perth or Canberra,” she recalls.

Ultimately, it was The Australian National University (ANU) and the ‘bush capital’ that won her heart.

“I chose Canberra because it was further away from home,” Kuan chuckles.

Matt Richards and Kuan Lim

The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law congratulates all members of our community who have been acknowledged in the 2023 King’s Birthday Honours List. 

Nine ANU Law alumni have been recognised in the 2023 King's Birthday Honours List for their outstanding achievements across a broad range of fields, and for their invaluable contribution to our society. We are proud to extend our warmest congratulations to all of our alumni who were recognised this year.

Ms Amanda Chadwick PSM (BA '92, LLB '95)

King's Birthday Medal

Like many high school students, Katelyn Ewart (BA, LLB (Hons) ’16) was unsure about what she wanted to study at university. Her interests were diverse; she was fascinated by international relations, enjoyed working with people and was drawn to solving complex problems.

Katelyn Ewart

Annie Haggar (BA/LLB ’06, GDLP ’07) has never been a tech whiz. She does not code and aside from Information Technology Law, she steered clear of most tech-oriented subjects at school and university. However, her curiosity in figuring out how things worked and playing with different gadgets led her towards a successful career working in technology law. 

Annie Haggar

The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law congratulates all members of our community who have been acknowledged in the 2023 Australia Day Honours List.

Four ANU Law alumni have been recognised in the 2023 Australia Day Honours List for their outstanding achievements across a broad range of fields, and for their invaluable contribution to our society. We are proud to extend our warmest congratulations to all of our alumni who were recognised this year.

Douglas Humphreys CSC (GradCertMilLaw '13)

Australia Day Honours

Kate Waterford’s (LLM ’17) journey into the legal profession featured many winding roads and destinations across various parts of the world. Ultimately, her curiosity about the world and the human stories in it sparked a passion to figure out ways to make the communities she was involved in better places. This eventually led to her pursuing a career in the legal profession, where she currently works as a Partner at Maliganis Edwards Johnson running its busy litigation practice focusing on medical negligence claims. 

Kate Waterford

More than a dozen alumnae from The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law have been named as finalists in the 2022 Lawyers Weekly Women in Law Awards.

Among the outstanding alumnae recognised for their work in the legal profession is Jorgie Gorman (BA/LLB/GDLP '05), who was named as a finalist in the In-House Lawyer of the Year category.

Jorgie Gorman

Rosie Heselev (BA/LLB (Hons) ’19) was inspired to attend university by her grandmother, a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, who taught her the importance of education and contributing to the community. As a teenager, she decided to study law because knew she wanted to use her privilege to address social issues. While she was not sure what this meant or where to start, she sought inspiration through some of the programs available to students at The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law.

Rosie Heselev

When Dr Alice Edwards (PhD ‘09) and Professor Robert McCorquodale were recently appointed to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), they made history as the first Australians to assume their roles simultaneously.

In July 2022, the UNHRC appointed Dr Edwards as the Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (SRT) and Professor McCorquodale as a member of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights (WGBHR).

Dr Alice Edwards and Professor Robert McCorquodale

How an ANU Law alumna discovered her calling as a disability advocate and life purpose champion

If you’ve ever wondered whether there is truth to the adage ‘persistence pays off’, look no further than Amanda Heal (BComm/LLB (Hons) ’96). Shortly after being born 14 weeks premature and weighing just 750 grams, she was diagnosed with retrolental fibroplasia.

Amanda Heal poses with her book, 'Seeing by Vision Not by Sight'

Several years after graduating from The Australian National University (ANU), Jennifer Darmody (LLB/BFin ’15) was working as a solicitor at a top-tier law firm when she made the decision to sign with an Australian women’s road cycling team and pursue life as an athlete instead.

Jennifer Darmody

The Australian National University (ANU) College of Law congratulates all members of our community who have been acknowledged in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. 

Three ANU Law alumni have been recognised in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours List for their outstanding achievements across a broad range of fields, and for their invaluable contribution to our society. We are proud to extend our warmest congratulations to all of our alumni who were recognised this year.

Mary Allan (BA/LLB '87) AM

Queen's Birthday Medal

For many undergraduate students, university is a time for ‘breaking away’ from their parents.

Kate and Emma Roff